Even though Mammoth’s third album, The End, was released only last October, Wolfgang Van Halen is already far ahead creatively. In a recent interview, the Grammy-nominated musician revealed that he has more than enough ideas for the band’s next album — and then some.
Wolfgang explained that when he works in the studio with producer Michael “Elvis” Baskette, creativity tends to overflow. Every time the team gets together, they don’t just finish songs — they end up writing many more ideas than one album can hold. Because of time limits, some strong ideas don’t make the final cut, not because they aren’t good, but simply because they weren’t finished in time.
Over the years, this has created what Wolfgang calls a “mini vault” of ideas. These are unfinished songs, riffs, or concepts that still feel inspiring. Sometimes, when he listens back to them later, he suddenly realizes what was missing. With a fresh perspective, those ideas can be completed and turned into full songs. According to Wolfgang, if he stopped writing new music today, there would already be enough material to make a fourth Mammoth album.
What’s interesting is how Wolfgang describes his songwriting process. He doesn’t see it as building something from scratch. Instead, he compares it to sculpting — like chipping away at a block of marble until the final shape reveals itself. Sometimes, an idea that feels amazing at first ends up being less exciting by the end. Other times, a simple idea grows into one of the strongest songs on the album. To him, songwriting is more about discovery than control.
Of course, having lots of ideas can be a challenge too. That’s where producer Elvis Baskette plays an important role. Wolfgang credits him for keeping the studio sessions organized and focused. Before recording even begins, Elvis plans out a detailed schedule for the entire session. This helps the team know when to push forward and when to set a song aside for later. Without that structure, Wolfgang admits he might get lost overthinking details.
Even with careful planning, inspiration doesn’t always arrive on time. Wolfgang shared a story about the guitar solo for the song “Better Off” from The End. Late at night, just hours before everyone had to leave the studio, the solo still wasn’t finished. After sitting around experimenting and trying different ideas, everything suddenly clicked at the last moment. It was stressful — but also a reminder of how unpredictable creativity can be.
Recently, Mammoth wrapped up a major headline tour in support of The End, featuring Myles Kennedy as a special guest. With touring done and a vault full of ideas waiting, it’s clear that Wolfgang Van Halen isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
For fans, that’s great news. It means the future of Mammoth looks just as loud, creative, and exciting as ever. 🎸